Katherine Nicolai

I'd get my matcha with soy, Crum would get his pup cup with biscuit garnish, and we'd find a table in the sun. He'd scramble up onto my lap, and we'd enjoy our quiet time together. When we got home from those days out, Marmalade would meet us at the door, thoroughly sniff crumb as if to assure herself. He hadn't been anywhere he shouldn't have.

I'd get my matcha with soy, Crum would get his pup cup with biscuit garnish, and we'd find a table in the sun. He'd scramble up onto my lap, and we'd enjoy our quiet time together. When we got home from those days out, Marmalade would meet us at the door, thoroughly sniff crumb as if to assure herself. He hadn't been anywhere he shouldn't have.

I'd get my matcha with soy, Crum would get his pup cup with biscuit garnish, and we'd find a table in the sun. He'd scramble up onto my lap, and we'd enjoy our quiet time together. When we got home from those days out, Marmalade would meet us at the door, thoroughly sniff crumb as if to assure herself. He hadn't been anywhere he shouldn't have.

Then turn her tail and head back to her spot in the window. We'd also had more playdates with Birdie, the sweet, giant greyhound who Marmalade had known since she was a kitten. Bertie's favorite thing to do was sleep. So when he and his dad came over, it was often for a quiet day inside together. In fact, those days together had grown more frequent in the last couple of months.

Then turn her tail and head back to her spot in the window. We'd also had more playdates with Birdie, the sweet, giant greyhound who Marmalade had known since she was a kitten. Bertie's favorite thing to do was sleep. So when he and his dad came over, it was often for a quiet day inside together. In fact, those days together had grown more frequent in the last couple of months.

Then turn her tail and head back to her spot in the window. We'd also had more playdates with Birdie, the sweet, giant greyhound who Marmalade had known since she was a kitten. Bertie's favorite thing to do was sleep. So when he and his dad came over, it was often for a quiet day inside together. In fact, those days together had grown more frequent in the last couple of months.

We'd started without even noticing to spend every Friday night, all five of us watching movies on the giant sofa in my living room, waiting for takeout to be delivered or cooking together in the kitchen. It had grown slowly, organically, this feeling of being together, being more natural, more comfortable than being apart.

We'd started without even noticing to spend every Friday night, all five of us watching movies on the giant sofa in my living room, waiting for takeout to be delivered or cooking together in the kitchen. It had grown slowly, organically, this feeling of being together, being more natural, more comfortable than being apart.

We'd started without even noticing to spend every Friday night, all five of us watching movies on the giant sofa in my living room, waiting for takeout to be delivered or cooking together in the kitchen. It had grown slowly, organically, this feeling of being together, being more natural, more comfortable than being apart.

And now Birdie had his own bed beside the others and his own bowl in the kitchen. He ate different kibble than crumb. And I'd bought a big bag of it from the pet store to keep in my pantry. Talk about commitment. I went to pet Marmalade in her spot at the window. And she woke as I laid a hand in her fur. she snuggled her head up into my palm.

And now Birdie had his own bed beside the others and his own bowl in the kitchen. He ate different kibble than crumb. And I'd bought a big bag of it from the pet store to keep in my pantry. Talk about commitment. I went to pet Marmalade in her spot at the window. And she woke as I laid a hand in her fur. she snuggled her head up into my palm.

And now Birdie had his own bed beside the others and his own bowl in the kitchen. He ate different kibble than crumb. And I'd bought a big bag of it from the pet store to keep in my pantry. Talk about commitment. I went to pet Marmalade in her spot at the window. And she woke as I laid a hand in her fur. she snuggled her head up into my palm.

As I rubbed her ears and scratched down her back, I started to tell her about something we had planned. I think Crumb already knew. since he'd found my suitcase open in the middle of the bedroom and had sat in it and frowned for a while. Now, Marmee, I said, leaning down to talk quietly to her. You've got to be a big girl, a good big sister. You know how Crum looks up to you.

As I rubbed her ears and scratched down her back, I started to tell her about something we had planned. I think Crumb already knew. since he'd found my suitcase open in the middle of the bedroom and had sat in it and frowned for a while. Now, Marmee, I said, leaning down to talk quietly to her. You've got to be a big girl, a good big sister. You know how Crum looks up to you.

As I rubbed her ears and scratched down her back, I started to tell her about something we had planned. I think Crumb already knew. since he'd found my suitcase open in the middle of the bedroom and had sat in it and frowned for a while. Now, Marmee, I said, leaning down to talk quietly to her. You've got to be a big girl, a good big sister. You know how Crum looks up to you.

Her tail flicked and she began to purr. You and Crum and Birdie are going to spend a few days with a friend. You know her, the nice lady at the inn. She's going to take care of you all, and you're going to have fun there. Bertie's dad and I will only be gone for a few days, and we'll bring you back something nice. She turned and looked at me shrewdly, then faced back to the window,

Her tail flicked and she began to purr. You and Crum and Birdie are going to spend a few days with a friend. You know her, the nice lady at the inn. She's going to take care of you all, and you're going to have fun there. Bertie's dad and I will only be gone for a few days, and we'll bring you back something nice. She turned and looked at me shrewdly, then faced back to the window,

Her tail flicked and she began to purr. You and Crum and Birdie are going to spend a few days with a friend. You know her, the nice lady at the inn. She's going to take care of you all, and you're going to have fun there. Bertie's dad and I will only be gone for a few days, and we'll bring you back something nice. She turned and looked at me shrewdly, then faced back to the window,

where a bright yellow bird with a swath of black across his wings and bold yellow eyebrows sat. An evening grosbeak, a rare pretty bird. It seemed auspicious. Crumb pranced over. and I scooped him up so he could look out as well. I was excited for our trip. We were headed somewhere sunny, where we could walk on the beach and see how this little spark we'd started might grow.

where a bright yellow bird with a swath of black across his wings and bold yellow eyebrows sat. An evening grosbeak, a rare pretty bird. It seemed auspicious. Crumb pranced over. and I scooped him up so he could look out as well. I was excited for our trip. We were headed somewhere sunny, where we could walk on the beach and see how this little spark we'd started might grow.